The Conquest

Lovely Zared Peregrine was the pride of her family, a treasure her rough-hewn brothers would strive at any cost to protect from their ancient enemies, the Howards. The Peregrines had suffered loss enough. Thus Zared's brothers trained her in the arts of war, and dressed her in boy's clothing. Beyond the castle walls, none knew that the youngest Peregrine was a girl....
Yet when the magnificent Knight Tearle Howard returned from a lengthy sojourn in France, it took him but one glance to discover that Zared was most definitely female, and beautiful. Now, as the enmity between their families raged on, Tearle would mount a bold campaign to win the ravishing spitfire's heart -- and save her from his brother's dark and deadly obsession!

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Blurb from fictiondb.com:
Lovely 17-year-old Zared Peregrine is the pride of her family, a treasure her rough-hewn brothers, Rogan and Severn, will strive at any cost to protect from their ancient enemies, the Howards. The Peregrines have suffered loss enough in this blood feud --- their mother, father, four other brothers, and very nearly Liana, Rogan's wife. Fearing they may lose their beloved little sister as well, Rogan and Severn train Zared in the arts of war and dress her in boys' clothing --- but refuse to allow her to venture outside their fortress alone. So no one knows that they youngest Peregrine is a girl.

Yet when the magnificent knight Tearle Howard returns from a lengthy sojourn in France, it takes him but a glance to realize that Zared is most definitely female --- and beautiful. Handsome, dark-eyed Tearle knows he wants Zared from the moment he sees her. And Zared, foolishly, makes his conquest simple: a girl raised with a sword in her hand is not easily sequestered behind castle walls. So as the enmity between their families rages on, Tearle mounts a bold campaign to win the ravishing spitfire's heart --- and save her from the dark feud that threatens Zared's life.


The Peregrine Family series:
Bk 1 The Taming (tells the story of the eldest Peregrine, Rogan & Liana)
Bk 2 The Conquest (tells the story of the youngest Peregrine, Zared & the youngest Howard, Tearle, but also includes a sub-story about the middle Peregrine, Severne & his quest to marry Lady Anne).

320 pages
1st Published 1982